On a Mission – Destination: International

On a Mission – Destination: International

Recently, Hope Academy has been focusing globally as our 8th and 9th grade students facilitated our first school-wide International Festival. We are extremely proud of their hard work and are thankful for parents and teachers who presented their native countries or countries with which they have a personal relationship. The younger students enjoyed learning about countries across the globe by participating in fun activities and games and putting stickers on their world maps.

With their minds on a world vision, our middle and high school students were blessed with the opportunity to visit JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) and Wycliffe Bible Translators in Waxhaw, NC.

This great organization sends missionaries to every part of the world to translate Bibles into people’s native tongue for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. I encourage your family to learn more about their mission by attending the next JAARS Day on Saturday, June 11 (click here for more information).

On that note, I encourage each of us to look inwardly and consider,

“What is our international responsibility as students, faculty, and parents?”

The Great Commission in Matthew 28 calls followers of Jesus to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This applies to you and me and to Christians everywhere. We must look beyond our lives – vertically to Christ and horizontally to our local and global neighbors.

What are some things we can do?

We can pray!

I have an immediate prayer request for a Christian orphanage in India called Little Lambs. Their current landlord will require them to move out of their facility on May 1, leaving them with only one option – to find another home quickly. Unfortunately, there are few people willing to rent to an organization like Little Lambs. Would you please pray that God moves in the heart of someone to rent a home to this amazing organization? We are asking God for a miracle. (I find it interesting that my high school Geography class is currently studying India.)

We can give!

We are so financially blessed as Americans.

Many missionaries are leaving the missions field daily due to lack of funds. I continue to hear stories of young children in Africa, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and India who are orphaned and living in the streets without parents. With little to no funding organizations with unmet needs are forced to turn people away or are close to shutting down completely.

Is there something we could sacrifice to help them? Perhaps delaying or giving up a future purchase to use the money to contribute to a worthy cause? Can we use this to teach our children to look horizontally and to give to a needy cause?

One local woman Rhonda Griffin visited an orphanage in Nicaragua and after seeing families and children living at a odorous landfill, she felt led to start the non-profit organization A Cause for Tea. This organization has raised over $60,000 for the orphanage.

The needs are great and God has given us an opportunity to help.

We can share!

Spread the word! Be a mover and a shaker for the gospel of Jesus Christ!

I challenge you to ask 5 family or friends to pray and donate to a Christian organization.

In addition to looking for a place to rent by May 1st, Little Lambs Orphanage is also raising money to buy land and a future home. Click HERE to contribute. If you put “Little Lambs” in the comments section of your donation, 100% will go toward their cause.

Tina Fillmer, a native of Union County, is a Middle School History and High School Geography teacher at Hope Academy. She is also passionate about high school advising. After having a career in telecommunications, she became a stay-at-home mother and homeschooled her daughters through 8th grade. She and her husband, Joe, will become “empty nesters” this fall with both girls attending college. They recently became worship leaders at Mill Creek Baptist Church in Monroe.

Admissions

At least one prospective parent is required (but both parents are strongly encouraged) to attend an open house prior to applying for admission. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so we advise all prospective families to visit in the fall to increase the chances of obtaining a spot for the following year.

Here are the Open Houses scheduled during the 2018-2019 school year for Fall, 2019 admission: